Big Sur wildfire now 79% contained amid cooler weather
A wildfire raging in the Big Sur area has grown to 917 acres, but more than 1,000 firefighters on scene have the blaze 79% contained, the U.S. Forest Service said Thursday.
Crews, struggling with difficult terrain, had managed to increase containment from 74% the day before, aided by cooler temperatures and higher humidity brought on by a recent weather system.
The Forest Service said that crews made progress overnight strengthening containment lines “in all areas of the fire.”
“All areas of the fire were heavily staffed during the forecasted front which was accompanied by winds up to 25 mph with gusts,” officials reported.
Full containment is estimated for Friday by about 6 p.m.
The so-called Pfeiffer fire broke out Monday near Pfeiffer Ridge in the Monterey Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest. So far 22 structures have been destroyed, including at least 14 homes.
One of the homes that was destroyed belonged to Martha Karstens, chief of the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Evacuation orders for homes in the Pfeiffer Ridge community are still in place and an American Red Cross center has been set up at the Fernwood Resort.
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